Sundeck with Self-Stowing Rumble Seat for a Boat

ABSTRACT

A convertible seating arrangement for a sundeck of a boat includes a seating element that is pivotally moveable between a stowed configuration and a seating configuration. The seating element provides a backrest and, in part, forms a seat when in the seating configuration. The seating element lies flush with the sundeck when in the stowed configuration. A sitting surface is positioned under and hidden by the seating element when the seating element is in the stowed configuration. The sitting surface is exposed and, in part, forms the seat when the seating element is moved to the seating configuration.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/045,839, filed Apr. 17, 2008, which application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to seats and seating arrangements in a boat. The present disclosure also relates to sundecks on a boat.

BACKGROUND

Boats have been developed with a variety of seating arrangements and sundecks to accommodate the demands of the market. The seating arrangements often reflect the size of the boat and the intended use of the boat. The sundecks are often placed across areas of the boat with no seating, such as over an engine compartment, at an elevation significantly higher than a boat floor. The sundecks typically offer a relatively flat horizontal area suited for lying down and/or sunbathing. Typically, boats have seating and sundeck arrangements that are specific to a given purpose and integrated with the design of the boat (e.g., a seating area is used for seats and a sundeck area is reserved for the sundeck). Given a limited amount of space on a boat, there are benefits in providing features that serve multiple purposes. In particular, there is a need for a boat with convertible seating arrangements. The present disclosure fulfills this and other needs.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a convertible seating arrangement for a boat, the seating arrangement having a seating element that is pivotally moveable to stow and convert the seating arrangement from a seating configuration to a stowed configuration. When the seating arrangement is in the seating configuration, the seating element provides a backrest for a seat that is formed on a sundeck of the boat. When the seating arrangement is in the stowed configuration, the seating element is flush with the sundeck. A sitting surface is positioned under and hidden by the seating element when the seating arrangement is in the stowed configuration. The sitting surface forms part of the seat when the seating arrangement is in the seating configuration.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a boat having an aft sundeck, the sundeck including a self-stowing rumble seat shown in a stowed configuration;

FIG. 2 is a rear, right, and top partial perspective view of the sundeck of FIG. 1 with the self-stowing rumble seat shown in the stowed configuration;

FIG. 3 is a rear, right, and top partial perspective view of the sundeck of FIG. 1 with the self-stowing rumble seat shown in a seating configuration; and

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional right elevation view of the sundeck of FIG. 1 with the self-stowing rumble seat shown in the seating configuration and also shown in phantom line in the stowed configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure relates to convertible seating arrangements for boats. In particular, a self-stowing seating arrangement is disclosed that is integrated with a sundeck of a boat. Referring to FIG. 1, an example boat 50 is shown including a hull 100 with a bow 102, a stem 104, a port side 106, and a starboard side 108. The boat 50 also includes stem seating 120 including a bench seating portion 124 and a backrest portion 126. A sundeck 200, positioned aft of the stem seating 120, and a stem platform 111, positioned aft of the sundeck 200, are further included on the boat 50.

As illustrated at FIG. 4, the example boat 50 is configured with the sundeck 200 positioned above an engine compartment 150 thereby elevating the sundeck 200 above the stern platform 111 and the bench seating portion 124 of the stern seating 120. As shown at FIGS. 1 and 2, the sundeck 200 is substantially flat and horizontal and extends from the port side 106 to the starboard side 108 of the boat 50. The sundeck 200 can include cushions, providing a comfortable surface to lie down on. The elevated position of the sundeck 200 provides exposure to the sun and therefore a preferred location to sunbath.

In addition to providing a horizontal surface, the sundeck 200 includes a self-contained seating arrangement. The seating arrangement has a stowed configuration, substantially flush with a remainder of the sundeck 200. The seating arrangement also has a seating configuration providing a seat 218 on the sundeck 200. In particular, the sundeck 200 includes a seating element 220 that is pivotally connected to the boat 50 about a pivot 226 (see FIG. 4). The seating element 220 can be rotated between the stowed configuration (see FIGS. 1 and 2) and the seating configuration (see FIGS. 3 and 4). A recess 205 is formed in the sundeck 200 when the seating element 220 is in the seating configuration. The recess 205 is substantially filled by the seating element 220 when the seating element 220 is in the stowed configuration. The recess 205 is thus fully enclosed within the sundeck 200 when the seating element 220 is in the seating configuration.

A deck surface 224 is provided on the seating element 220. When the seating arrangement is in the stowed configuration, the deck surface 224 of the seating element 220 faces upwards and is substantially flush with a port portion 201, an aft portion 202, and a starboard portion 203 of the sundeck 200. When the seating arrangement is in the seating configuration, the deck surface 224 of the seating element 220 faces forward and can optionally rest against the backrest portion 126 of the stern seating 120. The deck surface 224 of the seating element 220 can optionally include cushions that match the cushions of the other portions 201, 202, 203 of the sundeck 200.

A backrest surface 222 is provided opposite the deck surface 224 on the seating element 220. When the seating arrangement is in the seating configuration, the backrest surface 222 faces in an aft direction and provides a backrest for the seat 218. When the seating arrangement is in the stowed configuration, the backrest surface 222 faces downward, fitting within the recess 205, and is not outwardly visible. The backrest surface 222 can optionally include seating cushions.

The sundeck 200 further includes a sitting surface 230, located at the bottom of the recess 205 for providing buttocks support when the seating arrangement is in the seating configuration. The sitting surface 230 is positioned below the seating element 220 when the seating arrangement is in the stowed configuration. The sitting surface 230 is substantially hidden by the seating element 220 when the seating arrangement is in the stowed configuration. When the seating arrangement is in the seating configuration, the sitting surface 230 and the backrest surface 222 of the seating element 220 form the seat 218. In certain embodiments, the sitting surface 230 includes a cushion such as a neoprene pad or other cushion.

As illustrated at FIG. 3, when the seating arrangement is in the seating configuration, the recess 205 is upwardly open. A perimeter of the recess 205 is bounded by the port portion 201, the aft portion 202, and the starboard portion 203 of the sundeck 200 and the backrest portion 126 of the stem seating 120. In other embodiments, the perimeter of the recess 205 is bounded by the port portion 201, the aft portion 202, the starboard portion 203, and a forward portion of a sundeck.

As illustrated at FIGS. 3 and 4, in certain embodiments, the sundeck 200 includes an extended portion 204 configured to align with the seat 218 and thereby provide the seat 218 with a footrest.

In a preferred embodiment, the seat 218 is centrally located between the port side 106 and the starboard side 108 of the boat 50 and faces aft. In a more preferred embodiment, the seat 218 is centered between the port side 106 and the starboard side 108 of the boat 50.

As illustrated at FIGS. 2 and 3, in certain embodiments, the sundeck 200 includes one or more flip-up panels 210 that cover a storage area under the sundeck 200. For example, a beverage cooler may be located below the sundeck 200 in the storage area. A person sitting in the seat 218 can easily open one of the flip-up panels 210 and access the beverage cooler. The flip-up panels 210 preferably are rotatably mounted about a hinge-line 212.

As illustrated at FIGS. 2 and 3, in certain embodiments, the sundeck 200 includes one or more beverage holders 240 that are adapted for holding a container containing a beverage. The beverage holder 240 is preferably easily accessible by a person sitting on the seat 218 and by a person on the sundeck 200. The beverage holder 240 can also be accessible by a person sitting on the stern seating 120. The beverage holder 240 can include insulation for limiting heat transfer to or from the beverage. The beverage holder 240 can include a heating and/or a cooling element for heating/cooling the beverage.

In certain embodiments, seating arrangements in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure can be incorporated into a runabout style boat or other type of boat having a passenger capacity of less than 15 people. In other embodiments, seating arrangements in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure may be incorporated into different boat styles such as pontoon boats, catamarans, trimarans, or other types of boats.

The above specification provides examples of how certain inventive aspects may be put into practice. It will be appreciated that the inventive aspects can be practiced in other ways than those specifically shown and described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the inventive aspects of the present disclosure. 

1. A convertible sundeck for a boat comprising: a seating element having a stowed configuration and a seating configuration, the seating element having a first cushioned side and a second cushioned side that face in opposite directions; a pivot mount pivotally mounting the seating element to the boat, the pivot mount allowing the seating element to be pivoted between the stowed configuration and the seating configuration; a sitting surface positioned below and at least partially hidden by the seating element when the seating element is in the stowed configuration; and a cushioned deck surface; wherein the sitting surface and the first cushioned side of the seating element form a seat when the seating element is in the seating configuration; wherein the second cushioned side of the seating element is flush with the cushioned deck surface when the seating element is in the stowed configuration; and wherein the sitting surface is recessed relative to the cushioned deck surface.
 2. The convertible sundeck of claim 1, wherein the seating element fits in a recess in the convertible sundeck when the seating element is in the stowed configuration, the recess defines a perimeter that substantially surrounds the seating element on four sides when the seating element is in the stowed configuration.
 3. The convertible sundeck of claim 1, wherein the first cushioned side of the seating element forms a backrest when the seating element is in the seating configuration.
 4. The convertible sundeck of claim 1, wherein the second cushioned side of the seating element forms a portion of the cushioned deck surface when the seating element is in the stowed configuration.
 5. The convertible sundeck of claim 1, wherein the cushioned deck surface includes a starboard region, an aft region, and a port region, and wherein a first edge of the seating element is adjacent the starboard region, a second edge of the seating element is adjacent the aft region, and a third edge of the seating element is adjacent the port region when the seating element is in the stowed configuration.
 6. The convertible sundeck of claim 5, wherein one or more of the starboard region, the aft region, and/or the port region of the cushioned deck surface is a cover that covers an under-deck storage area.
 7. The convertible sundeck of claim 6, wherein the cover is a flip-up panel mounted on a hinge-line.
 8. The convertible sundeck of claim 7, wherein the flip-up panel can be opened by a person sitting on the seat when the seating element is in the seating configuration.
 9. The convertible sundeck of claim 7, wherein the flip-up panel can be closed by a person sitting on the seat when the seating element is in the seating configuration.
 10. The convertible sundeck of claim 8, wherein the under-deck storage area is reachable by a person sitting on the seat when the seating element is in the seating configuration and the flip-up panel is in an open configuration.
 11. The convertible sundeck of claim 5, wherein a starboard edge of the aft region of the cushioned deck surface generally aligns with the first edge of the seating element and a port edge of the aft region of the cushioned deck surface generally aligns with the third edge of the seating element, wherein an aft edge of the aft region of the cushioned deck surface is spaced by a distance from the second edge of the seating element when the seating element is in the stowed configuration, and wherein the distance by which the aft edge is spaced is sufficient to allow the aft region of the cushioned deck surface to form a footrest for the seat when the seating element is in the seating configuration.
 12. The convertible sundeck of claim 1, wherein the cushioned deck surface is located at an aft region of the boat, and wherein the first cushioned side of the seating element faces in an aft direction when the seating element is in the seating configuration.
 13. The convertible sundeck of claim 12, wherein at least a portion of the second cushioned side of the seating element rests on a portion of stem seating of the boat when the seating element is in the seating configuration, and wherein the stem seating is located forward of the seating element.
 14. The convertible sundeck of claim 13, wherein the stem seating of the boat includes a backrest and the second cushioned side or the portion of the second cushioned side of the seating element rests on the backrest of the stem seating.
 15. The convertible sundeck of claim 1, further comprising a beverage holder positioned on the cushioned deck surface.
 16. A convertible sundeck for a boat aft of a stem seating area, the convertible sundeck comprising: a seating element having a stowed configuration and a seating configuration, the seating element having a first side and a second side that face in opposite directions, the seating element being moveable relative to the boat between the stowed configuration and the seating configuration; a sitting surface positioned below and at least partially hidden by the seating element when the seating element is in the stowed configuration; and a deck platform having a first portion that at least partially surrounds the sitting surface; wherein the sitting surface is recessed relative to the first portion of the deck platform; wherein the sitting surface and the first side of the seating element form an aft facing seat when the seating element is in the seating configuration; and wherein the second side of the seating element forms a second portion of the deck platform when the seating element is in the stowed configuration.
 17. The convertible sundeck of claim 16, wherein the first portion of the deck platform includes a starboard portion located starboard of the seating element, a port portion located port of the seating element, and an aft portion, located aft of the seating element when the seating element is in the stowed configuration.
 18. The convertible sundeck of claim 16, wherein the first portion of the deck platform is a cushioned deck surface.
 19. The convertible sundeck of claim 16, wherein the first side of the seating element is a cushioned surface.
 20. The convertible sundeck of claim 16, wherein the second side of the seating element is a cushioned surface. 